Death at sea of Walter Wilkes Plaisted (1836 – 1871)

Walter Wilkes Plaisted (1836 – 1871), my 3rd great grand uncle, died of phthisis (tuberculosis) on board the SS Geelong during the passage from Singapore to Melbourne. His probate file, held by the Public Records Office of Victoria, includes an inventory of his effects, a fascinating insight into the possessions of a traveller of 1871.

death notice for Walter Wilkes Plaisted in the Melbourne Argus of 27 February 1871

Walter was the son of John Plaisted (1800 – 1858) and Ann nee Green (1801 – 1882). He was the fifth of eight children. Walter’s father, John, also died of tuberculosis and in fact the family quite possibly emigrated to Australia for the sake of John Plaisted’s health.

The Plaisted family arrived in Adelaide on the Rajah in April 1850. Walter was then fourteen years old. In 1856, aged 19, he was witness in a court case about a forged check. He was a clerk of the South Australian Banking Company. According to his father’s death certificate, John Plaisted had moved to Melbourne five years before his death, about 1853. Walter had obviously stayed in Adelaide, at least until 1856, after his parents moved to Victoria.

At the time of his death Walter was unmarried. He had made a will and left his possessions to be divided between his five living siblings. At probate he was declared to be a gentleman usually residing at Gipps Street, Richmond. Walter’s property amounted to less than forty pounds. His brother Thomas was sworn to administer the estate.